DARIO Gradi claims he just could not afford to keep a 'luxury player' like Rodney Jack at Crewe Alex.

Fans' favourite Jack, 34, has been told he will not get a new contract, ending his second spell at the club.

The striker's 23 starts last season were not regarded enough to earn a new deal.

Gradi explained: 'Rodney was a luxury player. He was an extra, but I can't afford that next season. We have to cut down, and Shaun Miller is emerging. But I think we resurrected his career a bit. Hopefully he'll get another club in the League.'

Jack was originally signed for a club-record £650,000 from Torquay in 1998, and made 188 appearances and bagged 44 goals before leaving in 2003. He returned last summer on a free.

Burly defender Darran Kempson has also been released. Signed from More-cambe last summer, he made six league starts before finishing the campaign on loan at Bury.

Gradi said: 'He has potential and was making progress, but slower than we would have liked. But Darran will be fine. He'll get a league club now and he's pleased with that.'

Meanwhile, youngster Adam Warlow has left the club despite scoring 31 goals on loan at Witton Albion. The teenager proved a hit at Wincham Park, but did not get a fresh deal.

Instead, Crewe asked him to play for an Icelandic club they have links with, before returning on a trial basis. He refused.

Gradi said: 'We went to watch him at Witton on numerous occasions and nobody ever came back with a good report. I went twice.

'We thought the best thing forward would be to get him away, and see if he could come back with renewed vitality. But he declined and I can't justify giving him a contract. He has the ability, but he'd be fifth choice here.'

Young defender Richie Sutton has also gone, while Adam Dugdale will be on month-to-month while he recovers from an ankle operation. He will then be given chance to prove himself. Midfielder John Dillon has accepted the offer of a spell in Iceland.